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Research in both Germany and the United States says YES! Speaking pattern can cause you to have a 20% lower salary than co-workers that use the country’s standard speaking style. The fact is that every person speaks with an accent. Our accent reflects the geographic region of our childhood and our native language. People can…

When you Google the top skills needed in management, communication is always at the top of the list, it’s no surprise that communication skills rank high on what’s essential for success in business. A good manager must be able to lead others, encourage teams of associates to work together, empathize with employees, and make presentations.…

The world of information technology is full of specific words and phrases that can throw a novice for a loop. Even after studying the technology in school, you might not be familiar with some of the idioms used in the workplace. Being able to understand these phrases and use them correctly can help you perform…

Our current situation encourages us to reflect on our professional position, our career goals and how we may get to the next step. Often, the next career position requires us to both enhance and develop new skills. If you are considering a managerial position, consider your communication skills. Listener friendly speaking patterns are essential for managers. Professionals who…

Good communication skills are an important part of any successful business, from customer service to employee direction and interaction. The result of miscommunication can have a staggering effect on a company’s bottom line. David Grossman reported in his article “The Cost of Poor Communications,” a company with $100, 000 employees averages a loss of $62.4…

From the fourth Thursday in November, when our nation joins together to celebrate Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day on January 1, people in the United States are swept up in the excitement of the holidays. This time of year is filled with the communication demands of parties, errands, and shopping. For some people, all of…

Do you have to repeat what you said to be heard? Do you get interrupted while trying to get across an important point? Women are often spoken over, interrupted, or even disregarded in their speech in both social situations and the workplace. “The Unheard Female Voice,” an article by Stephanie Watson details some of the…

Having excellent communication skills isn’t just about speaking clearly. It’s also includes having conversations that create a with another person. Many times, if I’m working with a client and recommend they attend a networking event, they will cringe. The prospect of making small talk with complete strangers is something that most people dread. The fact…

In Stephen Covey’s well-known book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, habit number five is “seek first to understand, and then to be understood.” This sentiment is written to help encourage cooperation, and clearly one of the keys to cooperating and finding success in life and business is clear communication. Careful listening and reflection…

If you’ve ever watched the 1995 movie Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone, you’ve heard what speech coaches refer to as upspeak. This movie depicting Generation X was full of Valley Girl talk, a type of conversation where your inflection rises as you speak. The pattern of speech makes what you say come across sounding like a…